Jan. 3, 2008

CARSON, Calif. and BRADENTON, Fla. - Former Wake Forest men's soccer players Michael Parkhurst, Will Hesmer, Jeremiah White, Pat Phelan and Julian Valentin will represent the United States on the global pitch as the play for U.S. National teams beginning this month.

The New England Revolution's Michael Parkhurst, a WFU starter from 2002-04 and 2007 MLS Defender of the Year, will join former Deacon standout goalkeeper (2000-03) Will Hesmer of the Columbus Crew and former Wake striker Jeremiah White (2000-03), currently playing abroad, on the U.S. National Team.

Training camp begins Thursday, January 3, in at the Home Depot Training Center in Carson, California, and will finish up January 20. Regional play will kick-off on February 6, when the U.S. plays host to Mexico at the Reliant Stadium in Houston. For more information on the U.S. Men's National Team, check out the official U.S. Soccer homepage.

Pat Phelan and Julian Valentin, who recently helped guide the Demon Deacons to their first National Championship, will join the U.S. U-23 Team at Training Camp on January 6. Valentin represented the U.S. on a national stage last summer as a defender for the U.S. U-20 team, who advanced the World Championship quarterfinals.

The U-23 Olympic Qualifying tournament will begin in Tampa, Fla. on March 11 with Cuba. After the conclusion of the opening round robin style tournament, the semifinals will begin on March 20 in Nashville, Tennessee at L.P. Field. The two finalists will then advance to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

For more information on the U.S. U-23 Men's National Team please visit U.S. Soccer.com.